19 Dec 2023

Justice Barnabas Nyamadzabo has set January 18 as the day in which death row inmate, Gobuamang Ntsuape will mitigate for a lesser sentence.

Though he already has a death sentence over his head for a separate incident, Ntsuape still has to mitigate for two more murder cases after being convicted in October for the murder of Emmanuel Mapholo and Thuso Ntosa, as well as four other counts of attempted murder, which he all committed in 2016.

Ntsuape had pleaded guilty to the six offences, which he committed by wrestling for the steering wheel of a Botswana Prisons Service Toyota Quantum he was being transported in and in the processes caused the vehicle to overturn, killing a special constable and an inmate.

On Monday, Justice Nyamadzabo set the matter for next year after Attorney Botho Maribe told the court that Ntsuape’s attorney was not well and had gone to see a medical doctor.

 As such, she pleaded with the court to postpone the matter to a later date.

Justice Nyamadzabo acceded to the request and further ordered that the defence psychiatric doctor, who was scheduled to appear on Monday should also appear next year.

 The 37-year-old Ramotswa native was sentenced to death last year by Justice Lot Moroka of Francistown High Court for the murder of his ex-girlfriend’s mother in September 2016.

The judge found out that Ntsuape killed Sadi Kgosietsile by intentionally setting fire to the family house following a break-up with his ex-girlfriend at Block 9, Francistown, .  

On the same day, Ntsuape is said to have also set on fire two vehicles belonging to the family, after having purchased petrol from a local filling station. ENDS